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I suddenly started getting muscle cramps as soon as I lay down about 2 yrs ago. I don't know what causes it but dehydration we one issue I heard, potassium if it is low. Caffine I thought was a problem...but I would like to know as well. Chronic muscle cramps have become a issue issue for me. My doctor could only say that they don't know what causes them.

If I have right knee osteoarthritis, do I have to work out my left side as well?
I was recently asked by a patient why he had to work out both sides of his body in physical therapy if only his right knee hurt. I can understand some of the confusion. After all, if your right shoulder were painful and inflamed and required an injection, the medication would only be put at the site of inflammation -- in your right shoulder. You would not be a candidate for a right and a left shoulder injection! However, physical therapy, for the most part, is much different. I'll explain.
There are two basic components to physical therapy -- passive and active. In the passive component, the therapist may apply ice, heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and other modalities to the painful area. For the most part, these modalities are only placed at the site of injury (there are a few exceptions that are beyond the scope of this blog). So, in this sense, physical therapy is functioning si...

A couple of months ago, I had coffee with a friend who had just started an exercise program. She would grimace anytime she got up, obviously her muscles and joints rebelling against her new regimen. To ease the pain, many people would use the heating bad, a massage or a hot bath with lots of Epsom salts. Those all are great ways to ease the discomfort, but there are other options you can use as well.
For instance, your dietary choices can make a big difference! “Food works on a cellular level, so you might not notice a difference in the first hour after eating them,” Jessica Crandall, a Denver dietitian and member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told The Wall Street Journal . However, some foods can decrease muscle inflammation and can help you recover. These foods and beverages include:
Omega-3 fatty acids - The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that eating foods with omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation. The George Mateljan Foundation poi...

The list of tips for sore feet is not complete without mentioning the butt muscles. This group of muscles may be the laziest in the entire body. When the butt muscles become weak, the entire leg is affected, including the feet. Everything starts to turn inward. The thigh bone rotates inward causing "knock-knees." The ankles turn inward to the point that the arch of the foot can become plastered to the ground. This misalignment of the leg leads to a chain reaction of chronic pain.
Anyone with back, hip, knee, ankle, or foot pain should remember to strengthen the butt muscles. The easiest and most practical way to improve strength in the buttocks is to stand on one leg. Go ahead and try it (if needed, hold onto a chair for safety). Your beltline should remain parallel to the ground and your body should remain upright. If that was difficult, try it again only this time focus on tightening the butt cheek on the same side you are standing on. Once the butt muscles engage, the leg be...

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